PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Malcolm Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Begbie Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franco has chosen Born Slippy as his entrance music. Malcolm Hopkins has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hopkins
vs
Franco

180 cm
24
190 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

185 cm
20
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Malcolm Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Begbie Franco!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Daniel Bishop and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco throws a lazy head kick
and Hopkins makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Hopkins misses the target.
Franco avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Franco misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Hopkins changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Franco looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hopkins in side control, throwing shots but Franco defends.
Franco isn't going anywhere.
Hopkins is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Franco is not content to let Hopkins control the position.

Hopkins looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Franco can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hopkins lands an elbow.

Hopkins tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hopkins has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Hopkins is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Franco has escaped the position, nice work there.
Franco tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins wants to control but Franco is keeping him busy.

Hopkins goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Franco rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Hopkins's guard! Nice work there by Franco!
Franco is looking to stand up but Hopkins won't let him.
Hopkins wants to sweep here but Franco controlling him for the moment.
Franco tries to stand but Hopkins is controlling from the bottom.
Hopkins seems keen to control Franco's posture.
Franco must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hopkins is proving hard to escape from.
Hopkins controlling Franco's posture.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Franco connects with a solid leg kick.
Hopkins scores with a nice right hand.
Franco showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hopkins.
Franco misses with a low kick as Hopkins jumps back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco misses with a low kick.
Hopkins blocks a head kick by Franco.
Some bone on bone action there as Franco checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Oooooh!!! Franco has knocked Hopkins down with a huge combo! Franco steps away and waves a wobbly Hopkins back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

It looks like Malcolm Hopkins has been cut.
Begbie Franco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A low kick from Franco misses
and Hopkins counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Franco, right into the meat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hopkins scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Some bone on bone action there as Hopkins checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Franco throws a leg kick
and Hopkins counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Begbie Franco will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Malcolm Hopkins's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Franco lands a head kick. Hopkins smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Franco throws a head kick that misses
and Hopkins cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hopkins checks a leg kick.
Franco avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hopkins scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hopkins connects with a looping right hand.
Franco misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hopkins keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Franco throws a sloppy head kick and Hopkins moves out of range easily.
Hopkins cracks Franco with an open hand slap.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco ducks right into an uppercut from Hopkins.
Hopkins scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Franco doesn't seem bothered though.
Hopkins wants to clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Franco. That's going to slow Hopkins down.
Franco throws a right hand that misses
and Hopkins connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Begbie Franco is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Franco takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hopkins tries to score a power double leg takedown but Franco sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hopkins somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Franco throws a nice outside leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Hopkins checks a leg kick.
Franco throws a leg kick but Hopkins moved away.
A leg kick checked by Hopkins.
Franco misses with a wild body shot.
Franco misses with a leg kick
and Hopkins connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Franco tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Begbie Franco seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco misses with a head kick.
A low kick from Franco misses
and Hopkins counters with an inside leg kick.
Franco throws out a leg kick but Hopkins moves out of range and Franco only half commits.
Hopkins swinging wildly here.
Franco thows a leg kick but Hopkins checks it
and Hopkins counters with a stiff right hand.
Hopkins shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Franco eats them both and turns towards Hopkins to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Franco misses with a head kick.
Franco takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Hopkins checks a low kick from Franco.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Hopkins.
Hopkins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franco swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hopkins tries for a takedown but Franco sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hopkins scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hopkins lands a body shot.
Franco moves out of range as Hopkins strikes.
Franco throws a nice head kick!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hopkins staying out of range there.
Franco throws a big shot that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Begbie Franco showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Malcolm Hopkins's cut.
That's time! Hopkins's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Hopkins scores with a jab. Franco acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Franco lands with a thumping leg kick.
Franco checks a leg kick.
Franco throws a leg kick that is checked
and Hopkins counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hopkins has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Franco.
Franco takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Franco lands with a thumping leg kick.
Franco throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hopkins works Franco's body with a nice hook.
Hopkins looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco throws a head kick but Hopkins moves out of range.
Franco misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Franco lands a head kick. Hopkins smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Hopkins connects with a good right hand that stumbles Franco. Franco circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hopkins is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Franco pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Franco throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hopkins shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Franco throws a head kick that misses
enabling Hopkins to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Hopkins.
Franco slips a straight right by Hopkins.
Nice shot lands for Hopkins.
A low kick from Franco is predictable there
and Hopkins counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Franco feints and then cracks Hopkins's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hopkins down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franco connects with an inside leg kick.
Franco misses with a low kick.
Hopkins throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Franco lands a head kick. Hopkins smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Begbie Franco is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco feints and then cracks Hopkins's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hopkins down.
Horrible takedown by Hopkins or perhaps it was just good defense by Franco which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malcolm Hopkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Franco looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Franco moves into range and connects with a jab.
Franco feints and then cracks Hopkins's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hopkins down.
Hopkins throws a low kick but Franco avoids it.
Franco throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hopkins.
Franco is looking to chop away at Hopkins's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Malcolm Hopkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hopkins scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hopkins has a takedown stuffed.
Hopkins loads up on a big right hand but Franco slips the punch.
Franco drops his hands momentarily and Hopkins takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franco tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Franco steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hopkins.
Franco throws a nice head kick!

And that's the end of the fight!
Begbie Franco comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Franco winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Begbie Franco!